When will my grace period end, and what options do I have to avoid unlawful presence?

The sixty day grace period for H-1B holders to find new H-1B employment is capped by the H-1B expiration date. Your second employer filed a timely H-1B change of employer petition, and you would not accrue unlawful presence until the petition is denied. Hopefully your new employer is able to respond effectively to the NOID. Your employer can submit a new petition explaining the circumstances of the new late filing, and it will be up to USCIS whether to favorably forgive the late filing or not. As you note, there is an issue with accruing unlawful presence if the first H-1B petition is denied. To avoid being barred by accruing 180 days of unlawful presence, your employer can perhaps file the petition with a request for premium processing on form I-907. USCIS should then reach the petition for adjudication within 15 business days. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.